adj
cheery
CHEER-ree
Cheery (adj) means Happy and cheerful in a light, easygoing way. Example: “She gave a cheery wave from across the street.”
adj
1
Happy and cheerful in a light, easygoing way.
"She gave a cheery wave from across the street."
"The air, too, was heavy with perfume, and a nightingale, high in the heavens, gave out a cheery song of welcome."
— F.J. Thwaites (1936)
How to use cheery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn good, upbeat spirits — very close in meaning to cheerful.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cherry" (the fruit) — same sound cluster, unrelated words.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- cheerier
- Superlative
- cheeriest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She gave a _____ wave from across the street.
Etymology
From Middle English cheri, built from cheer plus -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cheery
See all rhymes for cheery →Frequently asked questions
What does “cheery” mean?
The word “cheery” means happy and cheerful in a light, easygoing way. In plain terms, in good, upbeat spirits — very close in meaning to cheerful.
How do you pronounce “cheery”?
“Cheery” is pronounced CHEER-ree (/ˈt͡ʃɪɚi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cheery” in a sentence?
Here is “cheery” used in a sentence: “She gave a cheery wave from across the street.”
What part of speech is “cheery”?
“Cheery” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cheery” come from?
The word “cheery” comes from Middle English. From Middle English cheri, built from cheer plus -y.
